Coming to Seoul? Your plans aren’t complete without a full immersion food tour

Let’s be honest.

Compared to its neighbors, Seoul’s sights are fine but are dwarfed. What makes world travelers come to Seoul and return is its culture.

Its nightlife.

Yet it’s hard to navigate if you’re new to the area. Some restaurants and drinking spots don’t even accept single diners. A lot of the restaurants promoted by tourism entities are just that–tourist restaurants. You won’t find many locals eating there. Trip Advisor ranks taco and pizza joints because of the Great Wall of Intimidation in Korean restaurants. God forbid if you find yourself being suckered into standing in line at Myeong-dong Gyoza. And the Michelin Guide?

HA!

That’s why I started Korea Food Tours. I got the idea for these tours my first year in Korea because the great food is lying under the surface. You gotta have an “in.” You gotta have someone who knows the ropes. I don’t want you to go through what I went through. I got frustrated with all the fluff and pabulum Korean tourism agencies and corporations were promoting on TV and to tourists. I’m like,

Fuck that!

There are reasons why some of us decide to stay here and love it. We want to show you why we love this place. You’re not going to be led through some market, grazing like a sheep. You’re going to be with a group of new friends out for a good time. Full immersion.

You’re gonna be a Seoulite for a night.

(Actually, even Koreans take our tours and have been impressed.)

Just take a look at what we have to offer. We do recommend booking early in your stay so that our guides can give you the scoop on other places to eat and see during your stay.

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About The Author

Joe McPherson founded ZenKimchi in 2004. He has been featured and sourced in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, CNN, KBS, MBC, SBS, Le Figaro, Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Harper’s Bazaar Korea, The Chosun Weekly, and other Korean and international media. He has consulted for "Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain," The Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern,” Lonely Planet, National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveler, the PBS documentary series “Kimchi Chronicles,” and other projects in the UK, Canada, and Australia featuring celebrity chefs such as Gizzi Erskine and Gary Mehigan.
Mr. McPherson has written for multiple Korean and international publications, including SEOUL Magazine, JoongAng Daily, The Korea Herald, Newsweek Korea and wrote the feature article for U.S. National publication Plate magazine’s all-Korean food issue. He has acted as dining editor for 10 Magazine and was on the judging panel for Korea for the Miele Guide.
He spoke at TEDx Seoul on Korean food globalization, at TED Worldwide Talent Search on the rise of Korean cuisine, and in New York City on Korean Buddhist temple cuisine. The company ZenKimchi International organizes food tours for tourists and corporations and acts as a media liaison for foreign and Korean media and local restaurants and producers.